A Week of Fun in Puerto Vallartas
By Josef Kandoll W.

So few days, so many things to do! Let's say you only have a week: seven days in Puerto Vallarta. Since some activities are day-specific, I'm going to do a Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday kind of thing. Decide what you want to do after you see which can only be done on a certain day.

Monday The first day of the week is a good beach day. It's quiet early on, which is when you want to be there anyway, before the sun gets too hot overhead. Get a good chaise lounge under a palapa, grab a good book and put on sunblock. When your stomach grumbles, head to one of the fabulous eateries you can find along all the public beaches. After lunch, accompanied by a couple of beers or icy margaritas, head back to your bed for some midday siesta time.

Unless it's a long weekend, Monday is not the best night for dancing. But don't let that stop you from hitting the downtown clubs. Try salsa, jazz, mariachi, banda—or if you want to walk along memory lane, head for disco or hard rock.

Tuesday Put on your walking shoes for a free Malecón art tour offered by Galería Pacífico's Gary Thompson. Be at Aldama 174, 2nd floor (322-222-1982) before 9:30 a.m. for a fascinating lecture that leads you through time by touching base at many of the sculptures along the Malecón. When you're finished, have lunch at one of the downtown restaurants where Mexican food is classic AND classy.

Take the top down and head out for Collage's weekly Foam Party. Wear clothes that will look fabulous even when wet: I don't think you can avoid that, or surely it's the wrong place for you! Have a great time, stay as late as you like.

Wednesday If you tripped the light fantastic, you'll want a spa day. Try out one in the mountains with a view of the city and the bay. Arrange for temascal, the pre-Hispanic cleansing experience that is physical and spiritual. Spend the morning rejuvenating body, mind and spirit. Have a healthy lunch with a scrumptious salad and fresh fruit juice.

After a brief rest, dress up casual, sophisticated or somewhere in between, and go on the weekly downtown Art Walk, from 6-10 p.m., when all art galleries are open to the public and punch or wine is served. Some of the local artists as well as an appreciative public attend this event. It's a great place to meet locals and get to know more Vallarta secrets! Stick around for the nightly fireworks off the Malecón around 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday is also Fiesta Brava (bullfighting) at Las Palomas bull ring just north of the cruise terminal. The weekly show begins at 5 p.m. and lasts until sunset for aficionados.

Thursday Today is a day to be active. If flying is your thing, try one of the canopy tours, an adventure in which you fly through the trees attached to cables by a harness. It's safe, exhilarating and gives you unforgettable moving views. If you prefer the water, get out that fishing pole and arrange for a day in the bay or at sea. Or if it's underwater where you really come alive, strap on that scuba gear and dive down under. Even snorkeling, you come face-to-face with colorful bay marine life.

Friday Spend the day on an adventure: choose whale watching (the amazing humpback whale is a winter resident in Banderas Bay), horseback riding in the mountains or if you really want to get down and dirty, rent a four-wheeler for a jungle tour. Most of these daylong adventures include lunch as well as transportation. It's fun for the entire family.

You can also spend the day at the zoo. Hidden within Vallarta's jungle is a place where you'll encounter the world's most mysterious animals. Admire the splendor of white Bengal tigers and legendary black panthers, listen to the roar of African lions and interact with almost 90 percent of the animals we have in our facility. The Zoológico de Vallarta is based on a new zoo concept—a place where you can feed the animals, pet them, play with them, take pictures and above all, get back in touch with your own nature.

The fun is not over yet. Get dressed up for the evening and hit one of the beachfront gourmet restaurants. There's nothing like having your feet in the sand just beyond tide's reach with some of the tastiest food in Mexico paired with classic wines.

Saturday Take a quiet museum day. Trek to the Main Plaza where you can visit the maritime museum just off Los Arcos. Continue on the Malecón to the bridge that crosses over the Cuale River and take the steps down onto the island itself. You'll find not only great restaurants but a museum of local artifacts and crafts—as well as numerous stands selling beads and trinkets, blankets, hammocks, sandals, ceramics, silver and more. Find gifts for your friends and family back home.

After dinner at one of the restaurants with a view, you're going dancing. This time it's an all-night affair, so don't even start until midnight to make it through to see the sunrise. You'll sleep in the morning, or maybe on the beach.

Sunday Rent a car, hire a driver or take a bus to the glorious Botanical Gardens, located about 45 minutes south of the city in the mountains. Get up close and personal with orchids, traipse along winding jungle paths brushed by ferns, smell the roses, wade through the rambling river and, when you're ready for a break, go up to the main hacienda for lunch, drinks or even a snack. Visit the nearby orchid room to see what's for sale. Don't miss the boutique shops upstairs for jewelry, handmade items and even funky furniture.

Make it back to downtown Vallarta to enjoy the Sunday evening dances at the kiosk of the Main Plaza at 6 p.m. Join in if you like; it's free community fun. Spend the evening casually strolling the Malecón like the local families with kids and grandparents. Try the strawberries with cream or the corn-on-the-stick sold by street vendors. Stay until beyond sunset when the nightly fireworks spark the darkening sky.

Book your activities.
Golf courses.
Fishing and fishing charters.

Read unbiased opinions about Puerto Vallarta activities at TripAdvisor.